It has been a busy time for Year 12 and Year 13 Geographers with over 50 of them taking part in a three-part investigation collecting data on two local issues.

On the 1st March, the students went to Exeter to collect data at Princesshay and Exeter High Street, in order to assess how successful the regeneration of central Exeter has been. This included conducting questionnaires with shoppers and measuring how ‘cloned’ the shopping environment was by looking at the balance of chain, versus local independent stores.

On the 3rd of March, local expert Professor Stewart Barr from The University of Exeter’s Geography Department visited QE to talk to our Sixth Form geographers. He gave an interesting lecture on the changing face of Exeter from the Second World War blitz, to the newly proposed Princesshay Leisure Development - involving the demolition of parts of Sidwell Street and the bus station. (Read more on Stewart’s visit here)

On the 16th March, students visited the beaches around Dawlish Warren Sandspit, to assess how successful the coastal defences were against rising sea levels and the increased erosion risks that are linked to global warming. Here they conducted a series of measurements and experiments on the beaches and defences.

All the work has been invaluable preparation for when the students will have to design their own fieldwork investigations during the summer term. They all worked extremely hard in rather challenging weather conditions (as is often the case on field trips in the UK) on the second trip.

Here's hoping for some sunny, warm weather for when they set off to collect the data for their individual investigations during the summer term!

Martin Willmott